Getting Here

INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC FLIGHT ROUTES TO THE SERENGETI

Tanzania is served by a number of international airlines, including the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar. However, the Kilimanjaro International Airport in the north of the country is the closest airport to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Depending on your arrival time, you may need to overnight in Arusha, Dar Es Salaam or Zanzibar before continuing on to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area the following day. 

ARRIVING INTO KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL (JRO)

Kilimanjaro International airport is served by a number of international airlines, including Condor, Ethiopian Airlines, Fastjet, Kenya Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Precision Air, Safarilink, Turkish Airlines, RwandaAir and Fly Dubai. 

From the Kilimanjaro International Airport, it’s around four hours on a tarred road to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area or just over an hour to Arusha if you’re planning on spending a night there. 

Suggested Arusha Accommodations:  
    •    Arusha Coffee Lodge
    •    Legendary Coffee Lodge
 
ARRIVING INTO JULIUS NYERERE INTERNATIONAL IN DAR ES SALAAM (DAR)

Julius Nyerere International airport is served by a number of airlines, including Egypt Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad, Fastjet, FlyDubai, Kenya Airways, Malawian Airlines, Precision Air, Qatar Airways, South African Airlines, Turkish Airlines. From here, there are plenty of connecting domestic flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport from where you can proceed to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. 

If your international flight doesn’t allow for a same-day connection to Kilimanjaro International Airport, you can overnight in Dar Es Salaam and continue the next day. 

Suggested Dar Es Salaam Accommodation:
    •    Hyatt Regency Dar Es Salaam
    •    The Oysterbay Hotel
 
ARRIVING INTO ZANZIBAR INTERNATIONAL

Zanzibar International Airport is served by a number of airlines, including Fastjet, FlyDubai, Kenya Airways, MANGO, Meridiana, Qatar Airways, Precision Air, Oman Air, Ethiopia Airline and Turkish Airlines. If your international flight doesn’t arrive in time for a connection to the Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be required to spend the night in Zanzibar. Our safari team is on hand to arrange domestic flights, airport transfers and local accommodation to suit your itinerary.

Suggested Zanzibar Accommodations:

Zanzibar features a number of beach resorts where you can relax for a few days or you can opt for a convenient overnight stay in the capital, Stone Town, which is just a 10-minute drive from the airport.

    •    Park Hyatt Zanzibar, Stone Town
 
ARRIVING INTO NAIROBI AIRPORT (JOMO KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL)

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is served by a number of airlines, including Air Mauritius, British Airways, China Southern, Egypt Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad, Fastjet, FlyDubai, Kenya Airways and KLM. From here, you can board a short flight to the Kilimanjaro International and either continue directly to Ngorongoro or overnight in Arusha before continuing the following day. 

Alternatively, you may opt to stay the night in Nairobi and board the early morning flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport the following day. 

Suggested Nairobi Accommodations:
    •    Sankara Nairobi
    •    Tribe Hotel
    •    Hemingways Hotel

DOMESTIC FLIGHT CONNECTIONS TO THE SERENGETI

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area can also be visited in combination with the Serengeti, which is accessible by domestic flights to the Seronera Airstrip (SEU). From here, it’s around three hours drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, although it can take much longer if you wildlife spot along the way. If you don't wish to combine it with a Serengeti Safari then Manyara Airstrip is the closest Airstrip to Gibbs farm lodge just 20 minutes drive.

There are four main airports in Tanzania that offer connecting flights to the Lake Manyara Airstrip: Arusha Airport (ARK), Julius Nyerere International in Dar Es Salaam (DAR), Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ).

TRAVELLING FROM ARUSHA AIRPORT (ARK)

Several daily flights to the Lake Manyara Airstrip are offered from the Arusha Airport, with the latest departure currently scheduled at 1:00 pm. The direct flight time between the Arusha Airport and Manyara Airstrip is approximately 45 minutes.

TRAVELLING FROM KILIMANJARO (JRO)

Depending on seasonal demand, there are a number of morning flights from Kilimanjaro to the Manyara Airstrip. The latest departure is currently scheduled at 11:00 am. Alternatively, ground transfers can be arranged to Arusha where additional domestic fights are scheduled.

TRAVELLING FROM DAR ES SALAAM  (DAR)

A number of morning flights are available from Dar Es Salaam to the Manyara Airstrip, although most stop at various other airstrips en route. Most of these scheduled flights will arrive at Manyara Airstrip in the early afternoon.

TRAVELLING FROM ZANZIBAR (ZNZ)

There is one direct flight that departs daily from Zanzibar to the Manyara Airstrip in a pressurised aircraft, which allows for a faster flying time (around 2 hours 50 minutes). However, there is limited availability and non-direct flight routes may be a more practical option. 

CHARTER FLIGHTS

In addition to scheduled flight routes, it’s possible to charter a private aircraft directly to the Manyara Airstrip, then continue to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area from there. Charter flights aren’t restricted by luggage weight limits and you can choose the time of the flight during daylight hours (sunset is between 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm).

LOCAL AIRLINES AND LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS

Local Tanzanian airlines include Air Excel, Coastal Aviation, Regional Air, Auric Air and Flightlink, all of which use Cessna Grand Caravans or similar aircraft that are capable of carrying 9 to 13 passengers. It’s important to be aware that luggage is restricted to 15 kg per passenger and these limits are enforced. Luggage must be carried in soft-sided bags or suitcases, as no hard shell cases are permitted.